Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Allyn T on March 03, 2021, 04:06:55 pm
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Hello all, I'm thrilled to announce I have my first finished bow(second attempted). I thoroughly enjoyed making this bow and can't wait to start on the next one. I know it isn't perfect and I'm looking to improve so criticisms are welcome, but so are compliments ; ) I don't have a full draw yet but I'll add that whenever I can get my wife to take a pic. Ok specs
Hickory self bow 72" ttt, 71" ntn
1 3/4" wide at the fades, parallel limb for 3/4 length tapering to 1/4" tips.
Handle is 1 1/4 deep and 7/8 wide where the fades start.
Resting it has 1 7/8" string follow on the lower limb and 1 1/2" on the upper.
Stain is homemade iron acetate (vinegar and steel wool)
Sealed with spray on helmsman spar varnish
String is 12 strand B55
Pulls 44@29.25"
Thanks for looking
(https://i.imgur.com/1Iii6Nw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JwzlLO1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JG6JETD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f9aVBqM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6Jw2RUv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pv3grOb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Lo2pV0l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0DsGUYz.jpg)
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Yep, it still looks cool! That's a devil of a kink in the right limb! Looking forward to seeing the full draw.
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Significantly better than my first bow. A fine effort, you can sit back and bask in that feeling of success and achievement.
The only thing I would suggest for the next bow, is to shape the handle and fades a bit more for a less blocky look and feel.
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Nice, is this the one you built for the beginner challenge? Handle and fades are probably the elements most open to personalization, so don't worry. :)
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Thank you guys : ) and yes tradecraft this is the newbie challenge bow. I got full draws but my wife didn't want to quit laying on the couch so the angle isn't great lol
(https://i.imgur.com/smnSz6q.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zMI0ZlI.jpg)
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Fantastic! Very nice work! To jump right in with a wavy stave like that and make it bend is impressive to say the least!
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Well done. Appears to be quite over-built. What is the mass weight?
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Nice! Hope it shoots as good as it looks! I agree with Hamish on the handle critique. A leather wrap would dress it up nicely! Maybe a bit of stain to darken the back, if you are going to hunt with it. Good job, that will be hard to beat!
Hawkdancer
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Thanks kidder, I feel like the wavy isn't the hard part, learning the basics is what kills me like tillering without over stressing the wood. Scp it finished at 26 oz I wanted it overbuilt to reduce set but it took a bunch anyway I'm assuming a lot of factors contributed to that. Thanks hawk it is def a transition shooting a traditional bow vs a compound, my fingers are sore : )
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Good job and congratulations. I like how your stain took to it. Especially the cambium camo on the back. Well done.
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Congrats on your first successful bow! You did a great job on it. Hickory makes a great selfbow. Hope it gives you many years of enjoyment.
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Nice job on your first,tiller looks good. I am sure you will have many more, love the finish, You might want to round off the edges of the handle a bit, looks kind of square, it will hold up just fine but I found it to be a little hard on the hand when shooting a lot. :)
Pappy
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Congrats sir. That should make you proud and happy.
Bjrogg
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That'll work. Looks pretty nice I like it. Nice job.
Shawn~
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Thank you much guys it was such a fun experience, I'm glad I can share it with you because no one else in real life understands anything I tell them about bows lol.
Pappy I will def try that next time, I was afraid to take too much off
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congrats on your bow,, :)
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Thank you Brad : ) and thank you for all your advice and encouragement
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Well done allyn.... my first bow exploded... and my second.... and my third,..but not the forth !
I love the stain, really looks nice, especially with the cambium :OK
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Well done :) The first one is always special :)
Instead of rounding the handle you can glue on some leather and shape that to blend into what is already there. Then do a handle over the top. A simple wrap with hemp twine or similar, laid down over some watered down pva glue works well and is easy enough.
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Looking good !
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Thank you bownarra and Arvin : ) Fox I'm glad your 4th stayed together for you and your still at it, I'm sure once I step away from hickory I'll have a blow up lol
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Well well... You did it! And it's a lot better then my first bow! LOL. Well done mate ;)
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Uh oh.... the first finished bow... you’re hooked now ;D
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Thank you zugul I'm ready to see yours all finished and polished up. Yes Correy it's gonna be a long dark rabbit hole I'm falling into : )
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Congrats! Stain looks great! Wish my 1st bow looked that good.
Mike
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Wow! Congratulations on a very fine bow. That's wonderful.
For the next one, my eyes were immediately drawn to the sharp edges on the limb.
It is a good idea to round that area off with sandpaper.
Jawge
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Thank you m2a
George I did round them with sandpaper do you think I didn't do it enough?
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Yes, I do, Allyn. But tough to tell from the photos. Let's put it this way I round mine more than what I saw in your picture. Jawge
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Rounding the corners is to prevent splinters from lifting on the edges correct? So how round do you make them I was just winging it
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Nice looking bow, good ol' hickory flat bow. You did a good job.
Your build takes me back 25 years or so. That design and wood was what I chose for my second bow, which I still have and shoot occasionally.
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Thanks gifford I basically just tried to make a paul comstock bow
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Yes, Allyn, you are correct. Jawge
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Well done. Even though some of my first 4 bows held up for a few hundred shots it was my 5th that actually held together. Even it took a lot of set. I still break one once in a while but it’s getting rarer. As soon as I finish one I’m thinking about my next one. Still looking for what suits me best.
You know the old sayings.
It’s a slippery slope
Heading down a rabbit hole
The camels nose is in the tent, etc
The main thing is to enjoy the trip!
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As soon as I finish one I’m thinking about my next one. Still looking for what suits me best.
As soon as I start one I'm thinking about my next (lol)
I have no less than three in the works now, not counting the one getting finishing touches tomorrow.
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Looks really good Allyn congrats hope it keeps shooting arrows for years to come
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Thank you woody and kenneth. Tradecraft Im always thinking about the next one as well
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for a first bow i would call that a success :D
Bryce
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Thank you bryce I had fun bringing it to life